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Invoicing guides

Invoicing,done properly.

What an invoice must say, how to send it, and what to do when it is paid late, for UK sole traders and freelancers.

  • UK rules
  • Plain English
  • Free to use
28guides
Step by stepfrom quote to paid

All 28 invoicing guides

Pick the question you have now; each guide links the calculators and definitions it relies on.

Frequently asked questions

Do sole traders have to send invoices?

You must give a VAT invoice when you and your customer are both VAT registered. Otherwise the law does not force you to invoice, but an invoice is how you tell a customer what they owe and when, and it becomes your record of the income.

What must a UK invoice include?

A unique invoice number, your name and address, the customer’s name and address, a description of what you are charging for, the supply date, the invoice date, the amount, any VAT and the total owed. The guide on what a UK invoice must include has the full list.

What can I do if an invoice is paid late?

Chase it in writing, then add statutory interest and fixed compensation for a business customer, and, if it stays unpaid, send a letter before action and make a court claim.

Where these guides come from

Official guidance on GOV.UK.